Electrical connection means



Jan. 24, 1939. A, DQUGLAS 2,145,162

ELECTRICAL CONNECTION MEANS Filed May 31, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 HqtzsA- DOflgI-QQ I N VLM TOR BK MM W Jan. 24, 1939. DOUGLAS 2,145,162

ELECTRICAL CONNECTION MEANS Filed May 51, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1! B 2damage;

I I -VLNT0K K 'ATTOR' TS) Patented Jan. 24,1939

UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION MEANS Harry A.Douglas, Bronson, 'Mich., assignor t Kingston Products Corporation, acorporation of Indiana Application May 31,1935, Serial No. 24,251

'8 Claims. or. 173-328) My invention relates to electrical connectionmeans, and more particularly to connection means of the snap type,providing for the interconnection of a plurality of conductor terminalsat a single terminal post, and the principal object of my invention isto provide a new and improved electrical connection means. In thedrawings accompanying this specification and forming a part of thisapplication, I have shown, for purposes of illustration, several formswhich my invention may assume. In these drawings:

Figure l-is a perspective view of one embodiment of my invention,showing a connection.

means comprising a terminal post .or connector,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the connectionmeans shown in Figure 1, on a larger scale than Figure 1,

Figure. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 a Figure 7 is a section,partly fragmentary, taken on the line 11 of Figure 6, showing inaddition a pair of conductor terminals in cooperative relation'with theterminal post, and

Figure. 8 is a detail sectional view, enlarged, taken on the line 88 ofFigure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to Figure 1, there is here shown a terminal post I0 mounted ona base II. The

terminal Ill includes a tubular body portion I2 having a generallysquare cross-section with a pair of opposite side walls I3, I4 andanother pair of opposite side walls I5, I6 at right angles to the wallsI3, I4. ,The walls I3, I 4 are in-.

.tegrally joined at their tops by a U-shaped loop I1 providing anaperture I8, the axis of which is transverse to the longitudinal axis ofthe'tubular body portion I2. The wall I is formed in halves, one half I9integral with the wall I3,

and the other half 20 integral with the wall I4. In like manner the wallI6 is formedin halves, one half 2| integral with the wall I3, and theother half 22 integral with the W1 I4,

The walls I5, I6 are provided with a pair of apertures 24, 23respectively in axial alignment with each other. The apertures 23, 24are formed by recessing the abutting edges of the wall halves 2|, 22 andI9, 20. The lower'margln of the aper-' 5 ture 23 is increased in anaxial direction by bending at right angles to the wall halves 2| 22portions 25, 26 of these wall halves. The bent portions 25, 26 aredesirably shaped to arcuate form so as together form a substantiallysemicylindrical surface. In like manner the lower margin of the aperture24 is extended axially by bending at right angles to the wall halves I9,20- portions 21, 2B of these wall halves.- The semi-cylindrical surfaceformed by the bent portions 21, 28 forms a continuation of the semi--cylindrical surface formed by the bent portions 25,- 26, with a gap inthe surface, as'may be seen particularly in Figure 3. v The wall I 6,betweenthe aperture 23 and the aperture I8, is provided with alongitudinally extending slot 29, formed by recessing the abutting edgesof the wall halves 2| 22. The slot 29 stops short of the upper ends ofthe wall halves 2|, 22 and short of the upper margin of the aperture 23so that the ends of the slot 29 are adapted to form abutments, as willappear.

- The Wall I5 is provided with a slot 30, identical with the slot 29 andin alignment therewith.

The wall I3 is provided with a rectangular ap- 30 erture 3|, the uppermargin of which is in the plane of the upper ends of the slots 29, 39.The 1 wall I4 is provided with a rectangular aperture 32, the uppermargin of which is in the plane of the upper ends of; the slots 29, 30andthe aperture 3|. The wall I3 is also provided with a rectangularaperture 33, the lower margin of which is in the plane of the lowerendsof the slots 29, 30. The wall I4 is provided with a rectangularaperture 34, the lower margin of which is in the plane of the lower.ends of the slots 29, 30 and the lower end of the aperture 33.

Detent means 35 is disposed within the tubular body .portion I2, forcooperation with the apertures 23, 24 and with a conductor terminalinsertable through those apertures. The detent means 35 is here shown asmade of a generally square plate 36 which fits slidably within the Itubular body I2, as can be seen most clearly in Figure 4. The squareplate 36 is provided with four lateral extensions 31, 38 and 39, 40, onopposite margins of the plate, intermediate the ends. of the margins.The lateral extensions 31, 38 fit and are slidable longitudinally in theaper- IllreS 33, 34 in the opposite walls I3, I4, while the lateralextensions 39, 40 fit slidably in the slots 38, 29 in the walls |5, |6.The square plate 36 is provided with an approximately hemisphericalprotuberance 4|, which may be struck up from the plate 36, extendingtoward the axis of the apertures 23, 24.

Another detent means 42 is provided for cooperation with the aperture l8and with a conductor terminal insertable through that aperture. Thedetent means 42 is providedwith an approximately hemisphericalprotuberance 43 and is otherwise also identical with the detent means35, the lateral projections on the square plate of the detent means 42cooperating with the apertures 3|, 32 inthe walls I3, 14 and with theslots 29, 3D in a manner analogous to that already described inconnection with the detent means 35.

The detent means 35 and 42 are biased to cooperative position with theapertures 23, 24 and the aperture l8 respectively by a helical spring 44disposed within the body portion l2 of the terminal connector, one endof the: spring bearing against the detent means 35 and the other endagainst the detent means 42. When there is no conductor terminalconnected to the terminal post ID, the' lateral projections on thedetent means 35 abut the lower ends of the apertures 33, 34 and thelower ends of the slots 29, 38, and in analogous manner, the lateralprojections on the detent means 42 abut the upper ends of the apertures3|, 32 and the upper ends of the slots 29, 30, as can be seen in Figures1 and 2. When conductor terminals 45, such as shown in Figure 3, areinserted in the apertures l8 and 23, 24, the protuberance 43 of thedetent means 42 is in engagement with an annular furrow 46 formed in acylindrical part of the conductor terminal 45. The terminal 45 isprovided 4 with a frustro-conical end 41, which serves to .cam thedetent means 42 downwardly against the bias of the spring 44 as theterminal 45 is inserted in the aperture l8, further-thrust on theterminal 45 causing the parts to snap into the position shown in Figure3. The terminal 45 may be fastened to the conductor contained therein byswedging it to the conductor as indicated by the swedge indentations 48.Another conductor terminal 45, here shown as identical with the upperconductor terminal 45, is cooperable with the apertures 23, 24 and thedetent means 35 in a manner analogous to that already described inconnection with the upper terminal 45 and the detent means 42. It willof course be evident that the apertures 23, 24 in effect constitute asingle composite aperture for cooperating with a single conductorterminal such as 45.

The terminal post I8 may be mounted on the base II by providing it withfeet 49, 50 "and 52. The feet 49, 58 are, in this instance, extensionson the wall halves I9, 28, bent outwardly at right angles to these wallhalves and the feet 5|, 52 are in'like manner extensions of the wallhalves 2|, 22, bent outwardly at right angles to these wall halves. Theinsulating base II is of composite form comprising an insulating plate53 against which the feet 49', 58 and 5|, 52 abut, and anotherinsulating plate 54 overlying the insulating plate 53 and having anaperture 55 of the same shape and size as the outer crosssectional,contour of the body l2 of the terminal post to snugly pass the body l2.Consequently, the insulating base 54 is adapted to overlie the tops ofthefeet 49, 58 and5|,.52, and by clamp-- ing-the insulating plates 53,54 together, the

terminal post ID will be held to and supported by these insulatingplates. One way in which the plates 53, 54 may be held together isillustrated and comprises the provision of a metallic channel 56, inwhich the plates 53, 54 are disposed, the flanges of the channel beingprovided with fingers 51, which are clinched over the top of theinsulating plate 54.

In certain instances it may be found desirable to provide spacers 58, 59between the insulating plates 53, 54. These spacers are here shown asmetallic and provided with upturned flanges 60, 6| respectively abuttingthe ends of the insulating plate 54. The spacers 58 are desirably madeof the same thickness as the thickness of the feet 49, 50 and 5|, 52 orless than that thickness. Where the thickness of'the feet 49, 58, 5 52is not great, it is unnecessary to use spacers such as 58, 59, since theplates 53, 54 accommodate themselves sufliciently, without unduebending, when they are pressed against each other to hold the connectorpost. The insulating base may be provided with a desired number of holes62, 63, extending through the components of the base, adapted to receivemeans to fasten the base to a support.

Referring now to Figure 5 showing another embodiment of my invention,the terminal post 64 .here shown includes a tubular body portion 65,having a'generally square cross-section, comprising opposite walls 66,61 and opposite walls 68, 69 extending at right angles to the walls 66,61. The walls 66, 61 are integrally joined by a U-shaped loop providingan aperture 1|, the axis of which is transverse to the longitudinal axisof the tubular body portion 65. Thewall 68 is made in halves, one half12 being integral with the wall 66 and the other half 13 being integralwith the wall 61. Inlike manner the wall 69 is made in halves, one half14 being integral with the wall 66 and the other half integral with thewall 61. The walls 68, 69 are provided with a pair of aligned apertures11, 16 respectively. The lower margin of the aperture 16 may be extendedin an axial direction by bending inwardly parts 18, 19 of the wallhalves 14, 15, as already descrimd in connection with the parts 25, 26of Figures 1 through 3, to form a axially bybending inwardly parts 80,8| of the wall halves 12, 13, as already explained in connection withthe bent parts 21, 28 of Figures 1- through 3, to form asemi-cylindrical surface forming a continuation of the semi-cylindricalsurface formed bythe bent parts 18, 19.

The upper ends of the wall halves 14, 15 are provided with reducedextensions 82, 83 bent inwardly at right angles to these wall halves. Inlike manner the wall halves 12, 13 are provided with inwardly bentreduced extensions 84, 85. The bentextensions 82, 83, 84, 85 serve thedouble purpose of serving as lower margins for the aperture 1| and asabutments for detent means, as will appear. The upper margin of theaperture 16 is formed by bending in reduced portions 86, 81, at rightangles to the wall halves 14, 15, and the upper margin of the aperture11 is formed by bending inwardly reduced portions 88, 89 of the wallhalves 12, 13..

The detent means 98 is provided for cooperation with 'theaperture 1| anda conductor terminal insertable therein. The detent means 98 comprises asquare plate 9| having in the center thereof a hemisphericalprotuberance 92 extendtent means 88 fits slidably in the tubular body85. The bent in portions-82, 83, '84, 85 serve as abutments limiting-theupward movement of the detent means 88.

Another detent means 88 is provided, which .hasa hemisphericalprotuberance 88 and is also otherwise identical with the detent means88, except that the protuberance 88 extends toward the axis of theapertures I8, 11, and is adapted to cooperate with these apertures and aconductor terminal insertable therein.

The detent means 88 is biased upwardly and the detent means 88 is biaseddownwardly by -means of-a helical spring 88 positioned within the body'85 and having one end bearing against the detent means and the otheragainst the detent means 83.- In the position of the parts'shown inFigures 5 and 6 the spring 85 presses the detent means 88 against thebent in portions 82, 83, 88, 85 which act as abutments, limiting theupward movement of'the detent 88, and, similarly,-the

spring 85 presses the detent means 83 downwardly against the bent inportions 88, 81, 88, 88, which.

act as abutments to limit downward movement of the detent means 83.

In Figure 7 two conductor terminals 88 are shown in connected relationto the terminal post 68. The hemispherical protuberance 82 of the detentmeans 88 is pressed into anannular furrow 81 in a cylindrical portion ofthe upper conductor terminal 86 whereas the protuberance 84 of the,detent means 83 is pressed into a similar furrow in the lower conductorterminal .86. The conductor terminals 88-cooperate with the terminalpost 64 in the manner already described in connection with Figures 1through 3. I

The terminal conductor 84 may be mounted by providing it with feet ,'88,88 forming extensions of the wall halves I2, I3, bent outwardly at rightangles to these wall halves; The wall halves I8, I5 may be provided withsimilar extensions to form feet I88, I 88a. The aforesaid feet are shown-as in abutment with an insulating plate I8l.

Overlying the plate MI is another insulating plate I82 provided with anaperture I88 adapted to .snugly pass longitudinally over the body 85 ofthe terminal post 84, to come into engagement.- with .the upper surfacesof the feet 88, 88, I88, and

MM. The insulating plates I8l, I82 may be clamped together in anysuitable way, this being done in this instance by providing screws I88threaded through the insulating plates. If desired a spacer- I88, hereshown as of insulating material, may beprovided. The spacer I88 is hereshown as provided with an aperture I85, but

this aperture may be omitted and the feet 88, 88,.

I88, and MM, maybe in contact withthe spacer I88, reliance. being had onsome compressibility of the spacer I88 to accommodate itself to thefeet, when the insulating plates I8I, I82 are clamped together. Thecomposite insulating base may be provided with holes I81 for thereception of means for fastening the base to a support.

The walls 88, 81 may have their margins, atthe apertures I8, 11,provided with recesses or notches I88, I88, to facilitate the bending inof the portions 88, 81, I8, 18. The respective bent in portions such as82, 88 and", 88, which act to hold the respective detent means, may havearcuate edges 8, III.

It willbe evident from theforegoingdescription that the terminal post 88as well as the terminal post I8 are desirably formed of sheet metal.

The halves of the body portion 88 formed in the 'nel shaped halves abuteach other in common lines of registry'll2, II3.- In the case of the 5terminalpost I8 the common lines of registryare indicated at Ill, 5. Itwill be evident that in both of the illustrated embodiments the detentmeans and the'springs for biasing them toward' the positions in whichthey are cooperable with conductor terminals, as has been set fdrth, arepositioned between and with respect to the halves of the bodies of therespective terminal posts, so -that wh'en the halves ofthe bodies havebeen brought together the detent means and the springs cooperating withthem will have the respective positions already described andshowrn Fromthe foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that theillustrated embodiments of my invention provide new and improvedelectrical connection means, servingfor the interconnection of aplurality-of conductor terminalsat a single terminal post, readily andconveniently constructed and assembled, and accordingly, each-'accomplishesrat least the principal object of my invention. On theother hand, it will be apparent also-will be obvious to those skilled inthe art that 80 the illustrated embodiments of myinvention may bevariously changed and modified, or featuresthereof, singly orcollectively, embodied in other combinations than those illustrated,without departing from the spirit of my invention, or sacria5 ficing allof the advantages thereof, and that accordingly, the disclosure hereinis illustrative only, and my invention is not limited thereto.

1. An electrical conductor terminal receiving 40 means, comprising: aone-piece sheet metal body portion having U-shaped portions and anintermediate plant portion, the legs of said u-shaped portions havingrecesses; said body portionbein'gf bent intermediate its length so thatthe margins of saidlegs abut with the recesses in registering relationto form composite recesses, and the plane' portion forming a conductorterminal receiving aperture; detent means cooperable with said apertureand a plug conductor terminal, and having means cooperable with saidcomposite recesses to limit movement of said detent means; and means forbiasing said detent means to operative position I 2'. Electricalconductor terminal receiving means, comprising: loop means, bent metalstock, providing an aperture for receiving a conductor terminal; ,aplurality of juxtaposed channel-shaped parts, connected to said loopmeans, forming a split tubular body, the meeting margins of saidchannel-shapedparts being pro- 80 vided with complementary recessesarranged to form an aperture for receiving a. conductor terminal; a'pairof detent means, one cooperable with the aperture provided by the loopmeans,

metal stock, providing an aperture for receiving a-conductor terminal; aplurality of complementary parts,.connected to said loop means, 'and. 75

from sheet -silient means, interposed between said detent 4 means,comprising: loop means, bent from sheet an aperture spaced from saidloop means, for

receiving another conductor terminal; and biasing means, disposed withinsaid tubular body, and having one portion urged in a direction towardsaid loop, means aperture, yieldably holding a conductor terminaldisposed within said loop nieans aperture, and another portion urged ina direction toward said spaced aperture, yieldably holding a conductorterminal disposed within said spaced aperture.

4. Electrical conductor terminal receiving means, comprising: loopmeans, bent from sheetmetal stock, providing an aperture for receiving aconductor terminal; a plurality of complementarycparts, connected tosaid loop means, and so constructedand arranged to form a split tubularbody, the opposed'margins of said parts having complementary recessesarranged to form an aperture spacedirom said loop means, for receivinganother conductor terminal; means carriedby said body, adaptedforholding said body to a support; and biasing means,-disposed within saidtubular body, and having oneportion urgedin a directiontoward said loopmeans aperture, yieldably holding a conductorterminal disposed within.said loop means aperture, and another portion urged in a directiontoward said spaced aperture, yieldably holding a conductor terminaldisposedwithin said spaced aperture.-

5. Electrical conductor terminal receiving means, comprising: loopmeans, bent from sheetmetal stock, providing an aperture for receiving aconductor terminal, the legs of said loop means having complementaryparts fitting together to form a tubular body, said body being formedwith an aperture spaced from said loop means,

' for receiving another conductor terminal, the wall of said bodyadjacent said spaced aperture being bent to form a surface oppositelydisposed with respect to the bight surface of said loop means, andforming a continuation surface of the adjacent part hi said spacedaperture; biasing means disposed within said body, having one endadjacent the loop means aperture for pressing a terminal against thebight surface of saidtloop' means, and its other end adjacent saidspaced aperture, for yieldably pressing a conductor terminal in saidspaced aperture against said contfnuation surface. v 6. Electricalconductor terminal receivin means, comprising: loop means, bent fromsheetmetal stock, providing an. aperture for receivin a conductorterminal, the legs of said loop means having complementary parts fittingtogether to form a tubular body, said body being formed with a anaperture spaced from said loop, for receivingposed within said body; andhaving one end adjacent the loop means aperture, for yieldably holding aconductor terminal in the loop means aperture, and its other endadjacent said spaced aperture; tor yieldably holding a conductorterminal in said spaced aperture; portions of said body at adjacentdefining margins of said loop 'means aperture and said spaced aperturebeing bent inwardly, forming abutment means at said loop means aperture,limiting movement of said one end or said biasing means in the directionof I said-loopmeans aperture, and forming abutment means at said spacedaperture, limiting movement oi said other end of said biasing meansinthe direction of saidspaced aperture. I 7. Electrical conductor terminalreceivin means, comprising: an axially split tubular body, havingspaced-apart apertures each receiving a conductor terminal, the opposedmargins of said split having complementary recesses fitting to-,

gether to form slot means extending between said apertures, end marginsof 'said slot means stopping short of respective apertures; a detentmember, for each aperture-having a finger slid- ,ably fitting withinsaid slot means; and spring means interposed between said detentmembers, urging said members in.a direction toward respective apertures,abutment of the fingers on said detent members with respective ofsaid'end' margins limiting movement of said detent members in thedirection'urged; said detentmembers and said spring means beingassemblable with or disassemblable from said body by spreading theopposed mar g'ips, or said split body.

8. Electrical means, comprising: an airially split tubular body, havingspaced-apart apertures, each receiving-a conductor terininaL'the opposedmargins of said split having complementary recesses fitting together toform slot means extending between said apertures, end margins of saidslot means stopping short of respective apertures; openings provided insaid body, end margins of said openingsalso stopping short of saidrespective apertures; a detent member, for each aperture, having fingersslidably fitting within said slot means,

and said openings; and spring means interposed between said -detentmembers, urging said members in a direction-toward respective apertures,

abutment of the fingers on said detent members conductor terminalreceivingwith respective oi! said end margins of said slot means andsaid openings limiting movement of 1 HARRY A. DOUGLAS.

